PRESENCE OF MIND. 65

acquaiut the officers of his regiment. The report spread Kke wildfire, and before many minutes had elapsed several soldiers had hurried to the spot, calling out, ' Franz! Franz!" the name of their comrade. To their great astonishment and delight, liis voice was heard in answer,

" I am alive, but want to be out of this vile- smelling place."

" Ilimmel I"' exclaimed a young German, " lose no time hand up the ladder", and he climbed up to the top in a moment. " Now, Franz," he exclaimed, as he lowered it through the aperture, "be quick! run up as fast as you can!"

Franz needed no second bidding. In less than two miiuitcs he had joined his conu'ades, none the worse, and nothing daunted by his strange intei-- view.

' ^Vll(Il first 1 jumped down," saitl he, in rej)lv to the ([uei'ies of his coiiu'ades, 1 came sj)raw]iiiii; on all -fours, and had no sooner got uj) again, tjian

VOL. II. r

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